Pleasant Valley High boys basketball team set for season with new coach

CHICO — It's the start of a new era for the Pleasant Valley High boys basketball team.

For the first time in 19 years, someone other than Randy Gilzean won't be pacing the sidelines and guiding the Vikings.

Gilzean, a 1977 PV High graduate, resigned in March after coaching the team for 18 years and leading the Vikings to five Northern Section titles and six runner-up finishes.

Taking over for the departed Gilzean is Tim Keating, who coached PV's freshman team.

The Keating era got off to a good start Tuesday as the Vikings romped to an 81-50 victory over Red Bluff at home. PV's point total bested its output in any game last season.

The Vikings struggled on the offensive end last season and fell 53-37 at Shasta in the Division II semifinals, finishing with a 10-17 record overall.

Scoring wasn't a problem Tuesday as point guard Blake Marchant led the team with 25 points, Tyler Tulius had 16 points, Zack Eldredge had 15 and Marcus Habib contributed eight.

"I told the kids we're going to surprise some people this year. Maybe this was the start of that," Keating said Tuesday night after the season opener, which PV led 18-7 after the first quarter.

Despite the lofty point total, Keating said the Vikings' emphasis remains their defense.

Marchant starts at the point, and Keating called the 5-foot-11 senior a "very explosive player with great hesitation moves."

Tulius, a 6-0 senior guard, starts as well and Keating said he can play any of three positions, point guard, shooting guard and wing.

"We want him to shoot the 3," said Keating, adding the Vikings are a "guard, senior heavy team."

Habib, a 6-4 senior, can play point and a forward spot, and Keating called him the team's "x-factor."

Senior Reece Kettle (6-1) is another starter who can go between forward and shooting guard.

Senior Zack Eldredge (6-4) starts at center and drew praise from Keating for his fundamentals.

The Vikings will also get contributions from a deep pool of 10 reserves that includes Tommy DeArmond, a 6-2 senior guard, Ryan Troudy, a 6-1 senior guard, Jevonne McClellan, a 6-6 sophomore center, and Chad Olsen, a 6-4 junior forward.

Keating didn't hesitate to anoint Chico as the favorite in both the Eastern Athletic League, which also includes Las Plumas, Oroville and Paradise, and Division II, which only has the Vikings and Panthers now after Shasta and Red Bluff dropped down to D-III.

"Chico High is the team. They're loaded. They're better than us right now," Keating said. "They thumped us last year. I just don't want them to thump us this year."

And Keating wasn't about to let the Vikings get ahead of themselves after one game even if it was a resounding victory.